Harney, Mary

Wednesday, 22 November 2006

Dáil Eireann Debate
Vol. 628 No. 1

Page of 293

Written Answers - Care of the Elderly.

Was asked: if people who care for the elderly should be entitled to at least two weeks respite care from the State in view of the fact that they are doing the work of the State; and if she will make a statement...

Written Answers - Health Service Statistics.

Was asked: the population in each of the eight Health Service Executive regional areas in the last Census and in the most recent preliminary figures of the 2006 Census in view of the stated increases in expendi...

Population data for the each of the four Health Service Executive (HSE) regions are provided in the following table. Population of Each of the Health Service Executive Regions for Census Years 2002 an...

Written Answers - Child Care Services.

Was asked: the number of privately owned child care facilities currently in place in County Mayo; the number of children they cater to; and the number of such facilities that have closed down in County Mayo in ...

Written Answers - Medical Aids and Appliances.

Was asked: the reason CPAP equipment is not available to patients here; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

The Deputy’s question relates to the management and delivery of health and personal social services, which are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. Accordingly...

Written Answers - Care of the Elderly.

Was asked: the reason a person (details supplied) in Dublin 3 is being denied a public nursing home place; and if she will get them a place immediately as they have been on the waiting list for months.

Was asked: if she will fund and support the Meals on Wheels service in Marino, Dublin 3; and if she will put in place a full-time coordinator and an office in order to run the service.

Written Answers - Services for People with Disabilities.

Was asked: the reason a person (details supplied) in County Offaly has not gained admission to Dún Laoghaire Rehabilitation Hospital despite the fact of assessment on 26 September 2006 by a staff member of the ...

Was asked: if she will confirm the number of places available for patients at Dún Laoghaire Rehabilitation Hospital; the procedure adopted for admission; the specific number on the waiting list for the Laois an...

Written Answers - Health Centres.

Was asked: the situation regarding a property (details supplied) in County Mayo; and if there are plans to sell this property; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

As the Health Service Executive has operational and funding responsibility for health centres, it is the appropriate body to consider the particular matter raised by the Deputy. My Department has requ...

Written Answers - Children in Care.

Was asked: if assistance will be given as a matter of urgency to a person (details supplied) in County Louth in view of the serious situation; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

Written Answers - Health Services.

Was asked: if she will improve the chiropody services in the Marino area, Dublin 3; and the reasons for medical card holders not receiving this service locally.

Whereas there is no statutory obligation on the Health Service Executive (HSE) to provide chiropody services to GMS patients; in practice, arrangements are already in place to provide these services. ...

Written Answers - Health Service Staff.

Was asked: if her attention has been brought to the fact that 35 out of 55 students who qualified as basic grade physiotherapists at UCD in 2005 are as yet not employed in the health services; her plans to ensu...

I was recently made aware that an issue has arisen around the availability of employment opportunities for recently qualified physiotherapists and I have asked the HSE to give the matter its urgent at...

Written Answers - Health Services.

Was asked: when orthodontic treatment will be provided for a person (details supplied) in County Limerick.

The Deputy’s question relates to the management and delivery of health and personal social services, which are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. Accordingl...

Written Answers - National Treatment Purchase Fund.

Was asked: if she will assist in arranging an early appointment for a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if this person will be referred to a consultant under the National Treatment Purchase Fund sch...

The management of patient waiting lists is a matter for the National Hospitals Office of the Health Service Executive (HSE) and the individual hospitals concerned. However, in general, patients waitin...

Written Answers - Mental Health Services.

Was asked: the proposals for moving the Mater Child Guidance Service to a more suitable building where its services could be more effectively developed; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

Written Answers - Health Services.

Was asked: if an increased grant for 2006 relative to the service agreement between the Health Service Executive and a centre (details supplied) in County Carlow will be approved and awarded as soon as possible...

Written Answers - Medical Cards.

Was asked: if she will review the decision not to renew a medical card for a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny; if she will expedite a response; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

Medical cards are made available to persons and their dependants who would otherwise experience undue hardship in meeting the cost of General Practitioner (GP) services. In 2005 the GP visit card was ...

Was asked: if she will review the decision to refuse a full medical card in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny; if she will expedite a decision; and if she will make a statement on the m...

Medical cards are made available to persons and their dependants who would otherwise experience undue hardship in meeting the cost of General Practitioner (GP) services. In 2005 the GP visit card was ...

Written Answers - Hospital Services.

Was asked: if her attention has been drawn to the case being made by the action committee to retain St. Luke’s Hospital at Rathgar, Dublin; if she has issued a response to their concerns; and if she will make a...

I have received representations concerning the transfer of radiation oncology services from St. Luke’s Hospital, Rathgar to St. James’s Hospital, Dublin. The decision to transfer this resource was ta...

Written Answers - Health Services.

Was asked: further to a previous parliamentary question regarding a person (details supplied), the reason the Health Service Executive or old health board did not interview, as part of the investigation, the pe...

Written Answers - Services for People with Disabilities.

Was asked: if the Health Service Executive south east assessed persons (details supplied) who are on the autism spectrum prior to their entry to a school in County Kildare; if appropriate heath services includi...

Written Answers - Care of the Elderly.

Was asked: the reason a person (details supplied) in County Mayo who lives alone in their own home is unable to receive home help at weekends; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

Written Answers - Hospital Waiting Lists.

Was asked: the number of people waiting for procedures, listed by speciality in each acute hospital; the number in each case waiting over six months and over 12 months; and if she will make a statement on the m...

Responsibility for the collation and publication of waiting list information falls within the remit of the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF). The NTPF maintains public hospital waiting lists and...

Written Answers - Departmental Correspondence.

Was asked: if she received a letter, as was received by this Deputy, dated 10 October 2006 from a person (details supplied) regarding the abduction of persons; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

Written Answers - Health Service Staff.

Was asked: if a person (details supplied) is still the administrator of St Mary’s Hospital, Phoenix Park; and if not, the reason for same; the title the person has; and if she will make a statement on the matte...

Was asked: if her attention has been drawn to the fact that a person (details supplied) is working in the office of a local health manager; the reason this is so; and if she will make a statement on the matter....

Was asked: the reason the Health Service Executive has employed a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter.

I propose to take Questions Nos. 264 to 266, inclusive, together. Over 120,000 people work full-time or part-time in our public health services. In recent years, the Government’s ongoing high level o...

Written Answers - Clinical Indemnity Scheme.

Was asked: the number of EMT’s, paramedics and advanced paramedics registered with the clinical indemnity scheme.

As the Clinical Indemnity Scheme (CIS) has been established on the principle of “enterprise liability”, individual clinical practitioners are not required to register with the scheme. Their work in t...

Written Answers - Organ Donation.

Was asked: the status of the review requested by her Department in 2005, that the Health Service Executive undertake a review and analysis, of the factors that impact on organ procurement and the retrieval rate...

My Department is advised by the Health Service Executive that a reply has issued to the Deputy in relation to this matter.

Written Answers - Hospital Services.

Was asked: if her Department has any plans to introduce a screening protocol of infants, post delivery, which aims to identify infants who carry perinatal risk factors for the later development of autism; and i...

Autism is a common developmental disorder but can be difficult to diagnose in young children. Autism is a spectrum of disorders characterised by deficits in social skills, communication and behaviour...

Written Answers - Health Services.

Was asked: the number of people who have applied for drug addiction treatment in the Health Service Executive south region from 2000 to 2005 inclusive, the cost of such treatment in that period; the locations w...

The question relates to the management and delivery of health and personal social services, which are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. Accordingly, my Dep...

Written Answers - Hospital Waiting Lists.

Was asked: if her attention has been drawn to the fact that there are over 2,600 patients on the routine waiting list for dermatology outpatients and that patients in the south east experience delays; if she wi...

The Deputy’s question relates to the management and delivery of health and personal social services, which are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive. Accordingly, my Department has reque...

Written Answers - Health Services.

Was asked: further to Parliamentary Question No. 604 of 27 September 2006, if the Irish Osteoporosis Society will receive funding in the future to continue it’s good work; and if she will make a statement on th...

The Irish Osteoporosis Society (IOS) received funding from the Health Service Executive of €130,000 in 2005. The IOS sought further funding of €128,000 during 2006. Following a series of meetings an...

Written Answers - Vaccination Programme.

Was asked: if the vaccine for the prevention of the human papilloma virus will be available to private patients; if it will be available on the medical card if patients request it; and if she will make a statem...

The first vaccine for the prevention of human papilloma virus (HPV) has recently been licensed for use in Ireland and may be prescribed. A decision about the availability of the vaccine to both publi...

Written Answers - Radon Gas Levels.

Was asked: if, in view of the fact that there was excessive radon levels in a third of schools here, her Department has plans or carried out tests for excessive radon levels in buildings under the control of he...

Testing for Radon levels was carried out at the General Register Office, Roscommon in 2005. The results were analysed by the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland and all the measurements were...

Written Answers - Compensation Scheme.

Was asked: the reason a vaccine damage compensation scheme has not been introduced by her Department in view of the fact that there was a commitment that this issue would receive priority in her Department’s 20...

The issue of the feasibility of introducing a no-fault a compensation scheme for those damaged by vaccination is being considered by my Department. A steering group with specific terms of reference i...

Written Answers - Health Services.

Was asked: if she will confirm that there is over €40 million of unpaid debts to the Health Service Executive which are more than six months old; if she will give a breakdown for the €23 million overdue for mor...

The Deputy’s question relates to the management and delivery of health and personal social services, which are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. Accordingl...

Written Answers - Adoption Services.

Was asked: the current policy in relation to adopted children receiving knowledge of their full birth family history, including medical history; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

Written Answers - Child Protection Systems.

Was asked: if the in-depth study of the powers of the Health Service Executive promised to be undertaken following the publication of the Ferns Report has been completed; if she will publish the outcome of that...

Written Answers - Child Abuse.

Was asked: if the review of the Catholic Church’s guidelines on child sexual abuse which was commissioned by her Department has been completed; when it is proposed to publish it; and if she will make a statemen...

Written Answers - Hospital Waiting Lists.

Was asked: further to Parliamentary Question No. 62 of 1 June 2006 her definition of undue delay; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

The issue of ‘undue delay’ in respect of meeting the need for medical inpatient treatment was raised before the European Court of Justice in the Watts Case (a UK resident who sought reimbursement for ...

Written Answers - Ambulance Service.

Was asked: the hours of operation of the current Hems service in relation to the service level agreement between the Air Corps and the Health Service Executive with regards to air ambulance operations; and if s...

Was asked: the person who is the medical director in relation to the service level agreement between the Air Corps and the Health Service Executive with regards to air ambulance operations; and if she will make...

Was asked: the staffing configuration of the aircraft, pilots and doctors in relation to the service level agreement between the Air Corps and the Health Service Executive with regards to air ambulance operatio...

I propose to take Questions Nos. 281 to 283, inclusive, together. Inter-hospital air ambulance transport services are currently provided by the Air Corps on a request and availability basis. The Air ...

Written Answers - Assisted Human Reproduction.

Was asked: if she has undertaken to review the safety of IVF in view of the delay in legislation in relation to same; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

The Commission on Assisted Human Reproduction (CAHR) was established in March 2000. Its terms of reference were: ‘To prepare a report on the possible approaches to the regulation of all aspects of as...

Written Answers - Health Services.

Was asked: if she will look into the case of a person (details supplied); the Health Service Executive’s position on the matter; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

Written Answers - Forum on Fluoridation.

Was asked: if she will reinstate the Forum on Fluoridation website (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter.

The Forum on Fluoridation website has been reactivated for information purposes. The address of the website is www.fluoridationforum.ie. The Irish Expert Body on Fluorides and Health (Expert Body) w...

Written Answers - Departmental Expenditure.

Was asked: the quantity, cost and suppliers of energy used by her Department in the last year for which figures are available; if an audit has been carried out on her Department’s energy use; the details of sam...

The information requested by the Deputy is set out below. The details refer to the period from January 2006 to October 2006. Department’s Headquarters General Register Office, Roscommon No audit on en...

Was asked: the quantity, cost and suppliers of water, both tap and bottled, acquired by her Department for its own use in the last year for which figures are available; and if she will make a statement on the m...

The information requested by the Deputy is set out below. Department’s Headquarters General Register Office, Roscommon

Written Answers - Hospital Waiting Lists.

Was asked: when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will be called for an x-ray; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

Operational responsibility for the management and delivery of health and personal social services has been assigned to the Health Service Executive. Therefore, the Executive is the appropriate body t...

Written Answers - Services for People with Disabilities.

Was asked: the way the disability structural funds are being spent in the electoral areas in Mayo in 2005 and 2006; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

Written Answers - Health Services.

Was asked: the position of residential and emergency facilities available to women and men who have suffered personal abuse, injury, sexual assault, rape and so on from persons known or unknown to the person; t...

Was asked: the number of home care packages and hours provided in the Kildare and west Wicklow area of the Health Service Executive since the inception of the scheme; the average cost of the package; the cost o...

Written Answers - Care of the Elderly.

Was asked: the considerations given by her Department with the Health Service Executive for the provision of independent living units on lands within the ownership of the Health Service Executive; the areas und...

Written Answers - Services for People with Disabilities.

Was asked: his plans, in view of the scarcity due to over demand of respite placements in the Kildare and west Wicklow region, in agreement with the Health Service Executive, to extend the facilities at St. Vin...

Written Answers - Care of the Elderly.

Was asked: the number of independent residential units in control of the Health Service Executive in the Kildare and west Wicklow area; the areas where the units are positioned; the cost of maintenance of such ...

Written Answers - Health Services.

Was asked: the position of a project (details supplied) in County Kildare; if her Department or the Health Service Executive has provided funds for the project; the timescale of the completion of the project; a...

Written Answers - Services for People with Disabilities.

Was asked: if her Department will provide funding to the Health Service Executive to ensure that the needs of a person (details supplied) are met; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

Was asked: if she will refund costs to persons (details supplied) in County Kildare to services that their child needs to have a normal quality of life and that the Health Service Executive state they cannot pr...

Written Answers - Health Services.

Was asked: the reason a person (details supplied) in County Kildare with a medical card has to pay for an injection; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

Medical cards are made available to persons and their dependants who would otherwise experience undue hardship in meeting the cost of General Practitioner (GP) services. In 2005 the GP visit card was ...

Written Answers - Child Care Services.

Was asked: the value of the early childcare payment provided in the 2007 Estimate; and the change which it represents over 2006.

Written Answers - Nursing Home Charges.

Was asked: if she has made changes in the charges which will be made in public nursing homes the in 2007 Estimates; and the charges which will apply in 2007.

I take it the question refers to the charging of people in long stay care. The Health (Charges for In-Patient Services) Regulations 2005 in keeping with Section 53 of the Health Act, 1970, as amended,...

Written Answers - Drugs Payment Scheme.

Was asked: the threshold which will apply for the claiming of drugs refund in 2007 and the extent to which this has been changed as part of Estimates 2007.

The monthly threshold for the Drugs Payment Scheme is €85 per individual or family. It is not my intention of increasing this threshold for 2007.

Written Answers - Hospital Charges.

Was asked: the charges which will apply in 2007 at public hospitals for attending accident and emergency or outpatients, for staying a night in a public ward, for staying in a semi-private bed and for staying i...

The statutory inpatient and outpatient charges will remain unchanged in 2007. In-patient charges will remain at €60 per day up to a maximum of 10 days [€600] payment in any 12-month period. The outp...

Written Answers - Medical Cards.

Was asked: the income threshold which will be applied in 2007 for deeming a young person living with their parents to obtain a medical card in their own right on the grounds of being independent of their family...

Was asked: the changes made in the 2007 Estimates to modify the means test for medical cards and for general practitioner only cards; the index which her Department advises the Health Service Executive to use w...

I propose to take Questions Nos. 304 and 306 together. The assessment guidelines used by the Health Service Executive (HSE) in respect of applications for medical cards and GP visit cards are subject ...

Written Answers - Care of the Elderly.

Was asked: the qualifying conditions which will apply in 2007 for the receipt of a home care package; the benefits which will be available under the scheme; the number of such packages for which provision has b...

An additional €55 million (full year cost) was allocated in Budget 2006 for the provision of home care packages. €30m of this additional funding was to provide 2,000 extra packages by the end of 2006....

Written Answers - Medical Cards.

Was asked: if she has issued guidelines to the Health Service Executive on the method they should use for valuing savings or investments in the means test for medical cards.

The Deputy’s question relates to operational matters within the area of responsibility of the Health Service Executive (HSE). As a result I have not issued guidelines to the HSE on the method it shoul...

Written Answers - Nursing Home Subventions.

Was asked: the thresholds which will apply in 2007 under the nursing home subvention in respect of the savings necessary to disqualify an applicant and the savings which will be disregarded, the value of subven...